Improvement in coffin-clamps for hearses



w. u. HOUCK &1 .s. FOX.

Sofia-Clamp for Hearses.

N0. 59,323. 1 Patgnted Feb. 2,l875.

W I V Z I WITNESSES: INVENTUB: 45% M W UNITED STATES PATENT Farce.

WILLIAM H. HOIICK AND JOHN B. FOX, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COFFlN-CLAMPS FOR HEARSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 159,323, dated February 2, 1875; application filed January 11, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. Honor; and JOHN B. FOX, of Quincy, in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Coffin-Clamp, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view of our improved coffinclamp for hearses; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section of the same on the line 0 c, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the clamp-moving mechanism, and Fig. 4 an end view and sectional side View of the clamp-setting crank or key.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

Our invention relates to an improved coflinclamp for hearses, by which any size or shape of coffin may be firmly secured in a quick and convenient manner.

The invention consists of upright standards, which slide in guide-slots of the body of the hearse and retain the coflin by oscillating clamping-pads. The standards are moved in connection with nuts traveling on a right and left hand screw-bolt, which is so constructed that the front and rear clamps may be moved together, or one pair separately, for being thereby adjusted to any coffin.

In the drawing, A represents the platform or body of the hearse, which is provided with slotted guide-recesses a arranged symmetrically to but under oblique angles to the longitudinal axis of the hearse. The slots are made of such length and inclination that longer and shorter coflins may be readily attached to the hearse. The front and rear slots are made to converge toward each other, and serve to guide the upright standards B, which are provided at suitable height with oscillating clamping-pads B that conform in self-adjusting manner to any shape of the coffin. The standards B project below the slots at, and are connected by pivoted rods or pieces I) to winged nuts 0 that travel by means of a right and left screw-bolt, D, toward or in opposite direction from each other, according as the crank at the rear end is turned in one direction. or the other. The screw-bolt D is placed below the platform A in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and hung to end bearings 61, being constructed of two parts of the solid front part I) and the hollow sleeve-shaped rear part D through which the extension-shaft of the front part is passed until projecting at the rear end. The operating-crank E is so constructed with a recess, 0, and flanged clutch part f, that the same, when placed on the projectiu g rear end of screw-shaft 1), for engaging a lug or projection, e, of the same, the front part of the screw-bolt alone is turned, and thereby the front standard carried nearer to or farther from each other.

When the crank E is placed farther back on the screw-shaft D, so that its clutch part f engages a recess, f, of the sleeve-shaped part both sections are turned, and thereby both traveling nuts, together with the front and and rear standards, moved forward or backward to clamp or release the coffin, according as the crank is turned in one or the other direction. The independent adj ustability of the front clamps allows the setting of the same to the narrower flat ends of coffins to be then attached simultaneously with the rear clamps for the final clamping of the coffins to the hearse. This previous setting of the clamps to the shape of the coffin facilitates the clamping of the coffin, and allows the almost instant lockin g of the same when placed on the hearse by the pall-bearers, so as to avoid thereby the annoying delay occasionedby the present modes of clamping the coffins to the hearse.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The improved coffin-clamping device for hearses, consisting of movable clampingstandards, which are guided in slots of the hearse-body and operated in connection with traveling nuts moving on a right and left screw-threaded crank-shaft capable of admitting the simultaneous adjustment of all the standards, or of the front pair separately, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The standard-moving nuts 0, on right and left screw-threaded crank-shaft D composed of front part D with extension-shaft and sleeve-shaped rear part D to turn thereon by means of the clutch-shaped crank, either separately or jointly, all combined substantially as set forth.

3. The standards B, provided with oscillating elamping-pads B, to e'onform t0 the shape of the eotfin, substantially as described.

WILLIAM H. HOUOK. JOHN B. FOX.

Witnesses GEO. M. J ANES, WILLIAM H. TILLsON. 

